Bhante Dhammika of Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society, Singapore, wrote a poem back in 1986 which has become pretty famous. Many around the internet have quoted it and some have mis-attributed it as being the "Dhammavadaka Sutra" Here is the poem:

Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveller passing through. Your stay here is but short and the moment of your departure unknown.

None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and weariness will overtake you and you will be denied the joy that comes from labour’s end.

Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others.

Be near when help is needed but far when praise and thanks are being offered. Take small account of might, wealth and fame for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds. Treasure silence when you find it and while being mindful of your duties set time aside to be alone with yourself. Cast off pretence and self-deception and see yourself as you really are.

Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth often you will offer more light rather that blame and condemnation.

You, no less all beings, have Buddha Nature within. Your essential mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remorse nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding summons strength and walk on.

Faith is like a lamp and wisdom it is that makes the light burn bright. Carry this light always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the light.

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.Strive to be happy

All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with an evil mind, 'dukkha'*follows him just as the wheel follows the hoof-print of the ox that draws the cart. -------------Manopubbangama dhammamanosettha manomayamanasa ce pasannenabhasati va karoti vatato nam sukha manvetichayava anapayini.

All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness (sukha)** follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.

--------------------This was the poem I learned in junior high Row, row, row your boat,gently down the stream,until you hit the waterfall—then you’ll start to scream.

Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.

yawares

Last edited by yawares on Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Verse 54: The scent of flowers cannot go against the wind; nor the scent of sandalwood, nor of rhododendron (tagara), nor of jasmin (mallika)2; only the reputation of good people can go against the wind. The reputation of the virtuous ones (sappurisa) is wafted abroad in all directions.

Verse 55: There are the scents of sandalwood, rhododendron, lotus and jasmin (vassika)3; but the scent of virtue surpasses all scents.

Verse 56: The scents of rhododendron and of sandal wood are very faint; but the scent (reputation) of the virtuous is the strongest; it spreads even to the abodes of the deva.

Verse 7: He who keeps his mind on pleasant objects, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in his food, and is lazy and lacking in energy, will certainly be overwhelmed by Mara,3 just as stormy winds uproot a weak tree.

Verse 8: He who keeps his mind on the impurities (of the body), who is well-controlled in his senses and is full of faith and energy, will certainly be not overwhelmed by Mara, just as stormy winds cannot shake a mountain of rock.

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. And on that occasion Ven. Sāriputta, Ven. Mahā Moggalāna, Ven. Mahā Kassapa, Ven. Mahā Kaccāyana, Ven. Mahā Koṭṭhita, Ven. Mahā Kappina, Ven. Mahā Cunda, Ven. Anuruddha, Ven. Revata, and Ven. Nanda[1] went to the Blessed One. The Blessed One saw them coming from afar and, on seeing them, addressed the monks, "Monks, those are brahmans who are coming. Monks, those are brahmans who are coming."

When this was said, a certain monk who was a brahman by birth said to the Blessed One, "To what extent, lord, is one a brahman? And which are the qualities that make one a brahman?"

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

Having banished evil qualities,[2]those who go about ever mindful,awakened, their fetters ended: They, in the world, are truly brahmans.-------------yawares

Last edited by yawares on Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

List no. 255 The Five Benefits of Walking Meditation: 1. Stamina for long journeys2. Stamina for meditation practice3. Good health4. Assistance in digestion5. Durable concentration************I still post DAVID's BOOK @ sariputtadhamma/JTN...and will do till its end. yawares

Last edited by yawares on Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Buddha's List no. 297 Five rewards of listening to the Dhamma:1. One hears what one has not heard before2. One clarifies what one has heard before3. One gets rid of doubt4. One‘s views are made straight5. One‘s mind grows serene(from Anguttara Nikaya 5.38)

List no. 369Six qualities that make one incapable of hearing and practicing the Dhamma:1. He is endowed with a [present] kamma obstruction2. A defilement obstruction3. A result-of-[past]-kamma obstruction4. He lacks conviction5. He has no desire [to listen]6. He has dull discernment-------Buddha's verses: 15. Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves; the evil-doer grieves in both existences. He grieves and he suffers anguish when he sees the depravity of his own deeds.

16. Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices; one who performs meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences. He rejoices and greatly rejoices when he sees the purity of his own deeds.

"Even though the Blessed One has now passed awayand cannot be said to accept gifts and honours paid to himyet deeds done in his name are of value and bear great fruit.As a great and mighty wind that blew, even so the BlessedOne has blown over the world with his love, so soothing, sogentle and so pure. Like men tormented by heat and feverare soothed by a cool wind, so, too, beings tormented by theheat of desire, hatred and delusion are pacified by the sublimeteaching of the Blessed One. Although, great king, theBlessed One has entirely passed away, he has left behindhis doctrine, his discipline and his precious relics whosevalue derives from his virtue, concentration, wisdom andfreedom. Beings afflicted by the sorrows of becoming canstill receive the benefits of these things, as those who havefans can still make a breeze although the wind has subsided.This was foreseen by the Blessed One when he said, `Itmay be, ânanda, that some of you may think, "The word ofthe master is ended; we have no teacher any more", but youshould not regard it so. The Dhamma that has beenpreached by me and the rules that I have laid down, letthem be your teachers when I am gone'."[58. D. ii. 154.]

1. He has conviction, is convinced of the Tathagata's Awakening.2. He feels shame at [the thought of engaging in] bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mentalmisconduct.3. He feels concern for [the suffering that results from] bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct,mental misconduct.4. He has heard much, has retained what he has heard, has stored what he has heard5. He keeps his persistence aroused for abandoning unskillful mental qualities and taking onskillful mental qualities.6. He is mindful, highly meticulous, remembering and able to call to mind even things that weredone and said long ago.7. He is discerning, endowed with discernment of arising and passing away — noble,penetrating, leading to the right ending of suffering.

The seven actions performed in the seven weeks after enlightenment by the Buddha in BodhGaya:

1. Under the Bodhi TreeDuring the first week after enlightenment, the Buddha sat under the bodhi tree experiencing thehappiness of freedom and peace. He was free from disturbing thoughts, calm and blissful.

2. Gazing at the TreeDuring the second week, in thanks and gratitude to the tree that had sheltered him during hisstruggle for Buddhahood, the Buddha stood without moving his eyes as he meditated on thebodhi tree. Following this example, it is the custom of Buddhists to pay respect to not only theoriginal bodhi tree, but also to the descendants of the bodhi tree that still thrive today.

3. The Golden BridgeIn the third week, the Buddha saw through his mind‘s eye that the devas in the heavens were notsure whether he had attained enlightenment or not. To prove his enlightenment the Buddhacreated a golden bridge in the air and walked up and down it for a whole week in a walkingmeditation.

4. The Jewelled ChamberIn the fourth week, he created a beautiful jewelled chamber and sitting inside it meditated onwhat was later known as the higher doctrine (Abhidhamma). His mind and body were so purifiedthat six coloured rays came out of his body — blue, yellow, red, white, orange and a mixture ofthese five. Today these six colours make up the Buddhist flag. Each color represented one noblequality of the Buddha: yellow for holiness, white for purity, blue for confidence, red for wisdomand orange for desirelessness. The mixed color represented all these noble qualities.

5. Three GirlsDuring the fifth week, while meditating under a banyan tree, three most charming girls (or mindstates) came to disturb his meditation. They danced in a most seductive and charming mannerand did everything to tempt the Buddha to watch their dance. Yet he continued to meditateunperturbed, and soon they tired and left him alone.

6. The Mucalinda TreeThe Buddha then went and meditated at the foot of a mucalinda tree. It began to rain heavily anda huge king cobra came out and coiled his body seven times around the Buddha to keep himwarm and placed his hood over the Buddha‘s head to protect him from the rain.

7. The Rajayatana TreeDuring the seventh week, the Buddha meditated under the rajayatana tree. On the fiftiethmorning, after seven weeks of fasting, two merchants came into his presence. They were calledTapussa and Bhallika. They offered the Buddha rice cakes and honey to break his fast and theBuddha told them some of what he had found in his enlightenment. These two merchants, bytaking refuge in the Buddha and his Dhamma became the first lay followers.

Ekavihariya Thera: The Lonely Forest Dweller [translated from the Pali by Andrew Olendzki]

Prince Tissa(Vitasoka) was made Vice Regent when Ashoka was first consecratedKing. But within only a few years, inspired by the example of a forest-dwellingmonk he encountered while hunting, he renounced worldly life to live as a simpleBuddhist monk in the wilderness.

His monastic name translates as The Elder Who Lives Alone. The poem exudes theromantic yearning for the solitude of nature felt by someone who grew up, nodoubt, in the court of the Maurya empire. The first five stanzas are said tohave been uttered to Ashoka while expressing his wish to become a monk, and thelast two verses were composed upon ordination. A final verse, not translatedhere, attests to his eventual awakening.

It was quite a family. Ashoka's son (Mahinda) and daughter (Sanghamitta) werethe ones to formally bring the Dhamma to the island of Lanka, where TheravadaBuddhism flourished for two and a half millennia. The mountains named in thelast stanza actually refer to the ring of hills surrounding Vulture's Peak, butsince the previous stanza specifies the peak of a mountain, I think it isappropriate to name the more well-known site.

If nobody is to be found,In front of one or behind one,That is exceedingly pleasantFor the lonely forest dweller.

So be it! I will go aloneTo the forest, praised by Buddha;For the self-resolute bhikkhu,Dwelling alone, it is pleasant.

Pleasing, and joyful to sages,Haunted by rutting elephants,Seeking my goal alone, quicklyWill I go to the wild forest.

In the well-flowered Cool Garden,In a soothing mountain grotto,Having anointed all my limbs,I will walk back and forth, alone.

When indeed shall I come to dwellAll alone, without companionIn the great forest, so pleasing!My task accomplished, without taint?

While the gentle breezes flutter,Soothing and laden with fragrance,I'll burst asunder ignoranceWhile seated on the mountain top.

In a grove covered with flowers,Or maybe on a cool hillside,Gladdened by the joy of release,I'll be content on Vultures Peak.

Happy Birthday again and Happy New Super Cool LOTUS very very beautiful car!!...I wish you/your lovely wife/son/daughter enjoy this long Holidays...and please please don't forget to answer the question about LIST # 462.............if you want to answer here is fine with me...I can copy/post it at SD ....thank you very much.

yawares --------

Last edited by yawares on Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.